January Happenings

 

I was thinking, always dangerous, what events happened in January and, quite a bit to be honest. I decided to think of movies that correlate with the event in January and here we go…

1. ZULU-1964

This stars a young Michael Caine as an arrogant British officer, stationed in Africa, who must defend their stronghold against the Zulus  who have decided to squish the British into dust. Much to the Zulu’s disbelief, the small band of soldiers give all they have to defend their small area winning the Zulus’ respect. I could have seen this film many times but just never felt the pull to see this. I’m glad I finally did because it is so well done. The acting, cinematography, direction is all superlative and the writing is sure to grab you and build the tension between the 2 armies.

2. A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS-1966

Good ole Henry the 8th is married but without a male heir. He notices the young and very attractive Anne Boleyn and soon his loins are wanting every inch of her…he was a pig after all. The problem? He’s already married and the church doesn’t like to see divorce, so Hank Baby is in a pickle. He asks his good friend, Sir Thomas More to side with him so he can be all horned toad with poor Anne but Thomas will not hear of it. Thomas believes in his convictions and will not budge ending with imprisonment and his head. Henry and Anne end up marrying in January but to what, end does it mean? Paul Schofield won an Oscar as Sir Thomas More, deservedly so, and Richard Burton plays the dashing king ( before the King’s excesses won out creating a Bloated jerk with syphilis).

3. THE TAKING OF PELHAM, ONE , TWO, THREE-1974

The first subway was in London in January in the late 1800s, but this takes place on a grubby NYC subway where 3 men take over this one subway and request money or else a person will die each hour..I think it’s an hour. The tension is strong with superlative acting by Robert Shaw as head of the gang and Walter Matthau as the head of the traffic. It’s so interesting how each person has to make their small parts carry and it does. It is so worth seeing without young hunks and barbies acting as if they are normal human beings. It's intelligently written and grips you from beginning to end.

Any films you can think of where the event took place in January?